They do say, though I’m not sure who they are, that what goes on tour stays on tour. However, we had such a fabulous time that I think it needs to be shared. So sit back and relax as I tell the story of last weekend’s trip.

Most of the choir and their better halves and supporters travelled by coach to the Abbey Hotel in Great Malvern. Others chose to drive themselves. It appeared that it didn’t matter which route had been chosen as everyone encountered road works and diversions. Add to this the current phenomenon of lonely lines of cones on the M4 blocking a lane, with signage of road works with nothing happening, and the result was that everyone took longer than expected to get there. Some road works/diversions were more hair-raising than others. When our coach driver, Huw Morgan, was diverted near Hay-on-Wye and found himself with his heavily loaded coach at a toll bridge with a seven tonne weight restriction, he was told to keep going and not to stop! Luckily, the bridge and coach were both unscathed, though I imagine some nerves would have been frayed. I think that our secretary, Dave S W, did arrive more promptly having decided to travel on his motorbike. How he managed to cling onto his hanger carrying his choir uniform I’ll never know. It must have been an amusing sight for other road users. For some reason, all hotels and B&Bs were fully booked in Malvern so every where was busy.

On Friday night, some of us headed into town to nearby restaurants for food. Not surprising, two favourite options were Indian and Italian. A sizeable number opted for an Italian restaurant called Beneticto’s. We enjoyed a tasty meal, and before we left, the choir members grouped together to sing Benedictus with a slight alteration to the pronunciation. Sadly, it wasn’t the best performance of this number, but I hope that the restaurant appreciated their effort and I was thankful that Horizontal Wilbur wasn’t there to hear them. Apparently, the Indian restaurant was also very good so when I next visit Malvern, I shall give it a try. We returned to our hotel to relax and the choristers entertained other guests with a good warm-up session for Saturday’s concert. We had an unexpected and pleasant surprise when we were joined by the musician and poet John Cooper Clarke who had been performing at The Cube in Malvern. He must have been very tired and had been looking forward to a quiet drink in the bar. Instead, he was accosted by a swarm of friendly choristers who wanted to chat with him. John was an absolute gentleman posing for photographs and happily talking with everyone who approached him. He was also subjected to a group of choristers singing a version of Ghost Riders In The Sky. He managed to laugh in the right places and he didn’t flinch when Charlie forgot his words in the last verse. Meeting John really was an unexpected pleasure and sent everyone happily off to bed with smiles on their faces.

Saturday morning dawned, and after enjoying a good breakfast, we all chose different activities. A group of choristers and Jill (no relation) Williams headed for the hills. When they left the hotel, the sun was shining and there wasn’t a breath of wind. By the time they reached the summit, the sky was full of scudding clouds and the wind was doing its best to blow them back down to the town. It was the perfect moment for them to burst into song so they Climb(ed) Every Mountain with gusto.

Others chose to go on the coach to Ledbury to explore the shops and friendly watering holes. Our hotel, as it’s name suggests, was right next to the abbey and there were many shops close by to provide retail therapy and sightseeing. Great Malvern has some beautiful architecture and fabulous views to enjoy. Dave S W went off on his motorbike, this time minus his choir uniform so he could use both hands to steer.

Saturday evening arrived, and after posing on the hotel steps for a choir photograph, we all set off to Ledbury for the evening concert. We knew that the concert was fully sold out and that a number of supporters were travelling from further north to attend the concert. Terry Woods, who drives holidaymakers to Tenby, had travelled from Chichester to hear the choir. The concert was held at the Market Theatre and was organised by Derrick Spencer to raise money for Acorns Hospice. This is a Midlands-based charity supporting and caring for children and providing bereavement counselling.

Our master of ceremonies young David Blackmore was on top form and he was obviously inspired after his morning trek as he almost became poetic when he introduced Shenandoah. Maybe meeting John Cooper Clarke had brought out his inner sensitivity. The boys looked dapper in their DJs and daffodils, and as they were able to come onto the stage from different places in the wings, they were quickly in position. This meant that Jill didn’t have to play the Dad’s Army theme tune to keep the audience entertained. She did, however, play the Strictly Come Dancing theme tune as the choir left the stage for those of us who were missing our Saturday night favourite.

I did say that the boys looked dapper, but one chorister let the others down. John (The Milk) Butland has no buttons on his DJ, he says that one of the choristers has pinched them and he is threatening to leave Tenby Choir and join another instead. Perhaps, John, J. C. Clarke took them as he wanted a souvenir following your guitar playing on Friday night!

The choir were joined in the concert by Deborah Rose, a professional singer who hails from Newport, but now lives in Ludlow. Deborah has a beautiful voice and is also a very talented song writer. She also sang her own version of other people’s songs, including a very moving rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s Song Bird which became closely linked with Eva Cassidy when she recorded it. Deborah’s performance of this song was stunning.

The choir sang in a variety of languages and audience members who had not heard the choir before were impressed by their professionalism and talent. The audience were very enthusiastic when asked to participate and Dave Blackmore said that their rendition of Climb Every Mountain was marginally the best that he had heard in the Market Theatre on the night. Dave also tried his ‘I don’t remember the Everly Brothers’ and despite the fact that the majority of the audience hadn’t heard this before there were loud groans of disbelief throughout the theatre.

I think that Wilbur must have got wind of the not very good restaurant singing as Benedictus was scratched from the programme! Thunderous applause for songs from the shows and My Grandfather’s Clock gave testament to the audience’s enjoyment.

Several guest choristers joined the choir to sing An American Trilogy for the final number and the audience were calling for an encore, but it was getting late and it was too close to bedtime for some of the choir.

The afterglow was at the Royal Hall where Derrick provided a buffet for choir and friends. As is usual, the choir were in fine voice yet again. They entertained guests and bar staff with several songs. They sang the beautiful Fields of Athenry in which Duncan Hilling has a solo spot. I always love to hear the choir sing this and it always leaves me feeling tearful.

When we returned to the hotel, a few of us went to the bar for a nightcap. When I retired to my bed exhausted, Duncan and Audrey Hilling (both in their 90s) were still going strong. They not only outlasted most of us on Saturday evening, but were up bright and breezy for breakfast time on Sunday morning. Where do they get their energy?

We had a brilliant weekend and raised £1,100 for Acorns Hospice.

Many thanks to our concert audience and to Derrick for inviting us. Thank you to Wilbur and Jill (no relation) for your help and support. Thank you to the staff at the beautiful Abbey Hotel for looking after us so well and making us feel so welcome. Finally, thank you so much to our coach driver, Huw Morgan, who really couldn’t have been more caring and helpful to everyone, I hope he takes us on our next trip!

Di Mumford